Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants salary in Columbia, SC
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $56,230 a year ($27.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,370 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,400 for the top 10%. That is 27% lower than the national median of $76,590. Pay here is 8% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $60,890. There are 3.5 executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $58,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,370 | $19.89 |
| 25th percentile | $47,110 | $22.65 |
| Median | $56,230 | $27.03 |
| 75th percentile | $65,900 | $31.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,400 | $37.21 |
| Average (mean) | $58,310 | $28.04 |
Half of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,685.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,342.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,162.69 |
| Weekly | $1,081.35 |
| Hourly | $27.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $56,230 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $79,900 | 2,620 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $71,130 | 680 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $65,470 | 530 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $64,360 | 410 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $62,640 | 170 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $62,270 | 70 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $60,210 | 140 |
| Florence, SC | $59,690 | 110 |
| Sumter, SC | $57,460 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $90,850 |
| New Jersey | $89,520 |
| California | $89,000 |
| Massachusetts | $82,650 |
| Connecticut | $82,520 |
| Hawaii | $80,710 |
| New York | $80,640 |
| Virginia | $80,330 |
| Washington | $79,250 |
| Delaware | $78,920 |
See Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $45,620 | $21.93 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $40,160 | $19.31 |
| Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $58,520 | $28.13 |
| Customer Service Representative | $37,430 | $18.00 |
| Office Clerks, General | $38,320 | $18.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $62,230 | $29.92 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $46,690 | $22.45 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $41,240 | $19.83 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $35,530 | $17.08 |
| Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks | $38,760 | $18.64 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $46,370 | $22.29 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $60,090 | $28.89 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $55,610 | $26.74 |
| Bill and Account Collectors | $39,370 | $18.93 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-6011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in the Columbia, SC metro area is $56,230 a year, or $27.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $77,400 a year. The top 25% earn $65,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,370 a year, and a quarter of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn $47,110 or less.
How many executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants work in Columbia, SC?
About 1,370 executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.